Pedigrees - How do I read it?

Yearling Sales Catalogue & Sale Day

The catalogue is the book which outlines each yearling in a sale. Each page in the catalogue describes a different horse and their pedigree (family tree). The other information contained on the page, such as where the horse is located at the Inglis complex is detailed below.

A pedigree provides extensive details about the relatives of each yearling offered (e.g. how many foals/ winners the dam has produced, the race and progeny record of a sire).

Catalogues also contain general information such as stabling information and Conditions of Sale - the legal terms upon which all purchases are based. It is important for buyers to familiarise themselves with these terms, as they provide invaluable information about the sales process. Catalogues for major yearling sales are available from Inglis approximately one month before the sale. They are also available on our iPad app.

The start time for selling is listed on the Inglis website, or in the front of the sale catalogue. Approximately 25 yearlings are sold per hour, at a fast & exciting pace.

Prior to bidding and purchasing, you need to register your details with the Inglis finance team, which you can do so by telephone or in person at the Sale Day Office. If you would like to attend a sale as a spectator, there is no pre-registration necessary.

Even if you plan to enter ownership through a trainer, syndicator or agent, it's still a valuable learning experience to attend a sale and see where it all begins.

Yearlings are available for physical inspection on the grounds in Sydney and Melbourne generally two days prior to a sale. The way a prospective racehorse is raised, fed and exercised as a young foal plays a large part in its potential success.

Pedigree is one part of the equation and conformation is the other. There are many people who can assist you in both areas: Inglis staff, independent bloodstock agents, trainers and stud masters have an intimate knowledge of stallions progeny and their traits.

Pedigrees

Where to start?

Here is some insight from Inglis bloodstock consultants on where to start:

When first looking at a sale catalogue, one place to start is to look at the stallions which are represented within.

In equine genetics sire and dam play an equal part in the off-spring, however when trying to learn, it is far easier to mentally refer to a stallion than it is to a mare as there are fewer stallions. The absolute elite stallions are classified as having a stakes winners to runners ratio up to 10%.

If you do not have knowledge of stallions, consider your favourite horses past and present and see which stallion they are by.

For example, Black Caviar is by Bel Esprit and Foxwedge by Fastnet Rock. Then refer to the paragraph on the pedigree about the stallion. Consider whether they are a sprinter or a stayer and whether his progeny race as 2YO or later. For further information you can then refer to bloodstock.com.au/stallions

Another approach may be to look at race results, particularly focussing on 2YO races, and consider their breeding. As 2YOs are the youngest horses racing, their winners will give you an idea of which stallions are enjoying success. Currently, ill-fated son of Encosta de Lago, Northern Meteor had 18 2YO winners in his first season at Stud, including Group One winners Romantic Touch and Zoustar.

Furthermore, every horse owner has a dream of winning a certain race. Do you want to win the Golden Slipper, or the W S Cox Plate? Research horses that have performed well in these races and who they are by. For example, Overreach the 2013 Golden Slipper winner is by Exceed and Excel.

Once you have developed some ideas or stallions you are keen on, you can use this as a place to start in your catalogue. There is a sire's index in the front of each sale catalogue which you can use to identify the yearlings
you are interested in.

Some professional bloodstock agents study an entire catalogue, if they have a variety of clients and requests. This is a large task for someone starting out. Rather than studying every pedigree in the catalogue perhaps start with the stallions you have familiarised yourself with.

Look at the service fees which can be found on stallions.com.au and the Inglis website for past sales results. Check what the average price for a filly and a colt by that stallion at a particular sale has been to give you an idea of what the price range may be.

The Dam

Another crucial piece of information is the first Dam's performance. First Dam is the mother of the yearling, second dam is also known as the grand dam. You are looking to see if the first dam produces winners in her progeny. For example, if she has had 8 foals and only thrown 1 winner, then this would be taken into consideration. This information is generally listed on the last line of the 1st Dam information on the pedigree.

If she has not had many runners, look at her race record (unraced, placed, black type winner).

The Inglis bloodstock team generally suggest referring to the first two dams, as if you go further back than this it becomes less significant on the product you are looking at. If there have been no winners in the first one or two pedigrees then don't go further back.

Statistically the mare's best horses will come from her first 5 foals. Some first foals tend to be smaller, but if you like all the other factors then don't let this affect your decision to bid.

Anomalies will always appear in breeding! Everyone is looking for the secret recipe and there are unraced mares that go on to produce champions, such as Black Caviar's Dam Helsinge.

Common Pedigree Terms

A key area to look for in pedigree is siblings. There are three types of siblings that are generally noted:

Full Siblings
Full brothers/sisters that share the same sire & dam

3/4 siblings
Horses that share 3 out of 4 grandparents

Half Siblings
Either share two grandparents or have the same dam*

*Note that horses that share the same sire are not generally considered half siblings

Another point of note may be stallions passing on their genes better than others, exaggerated characteristics or determining progeny traits. Knowing these generally comes from studying progeny and is not listed anywhere.

Examples include:

• Zabeel has thrown the ability to stay into his progeny
• General Nediym was predominantly a sire of good fillies
• Fastnet Rock throws a plain head on some of his foals
• Al Maher throws a nice scopey 3YO type

Whilst some people believe colour means very little, others look at the colour of a horse to see where it comes from in the pedigree - this could be seen as one indicator as to whether the yearling has had a dominant influence in the progeny from the stallion or dam. For example, Lonhro was nicknamed 'the Black Flash' and he was from the first crop of the champion Octagonal, who was very dark in colour.

A cross is a term used to describe how bloodlines have matched to produce good horses. For Example:

Danehill X Mr Prospector
Danehill out of a Mr Prospector mare produced Flying Spur so this suggests this cross worked

Fastnet Rock X Zabeel
Fastnet Rock out of a Zabeel mare produced Atlantic Jewel so this suggests this cross worked

If you find a cross that works, perhaps consider going to look at the other progeny. If you like a cross, you could develop your set of rules that way.

The bold text on a pedigree is when the same sirelines appear on the Sire and Dam side.

Nicks and Crosses

A nick is used to describe a breeding pattern or match between a Sire and Dam. It is a real live genetic term describing a cross of two bloodlines that produces superior results a surprising amount of the time. It is not guaranteed, but it has a serious track record. For example say Fastnet Rock is suited to a mare by Stravinksy mares one would say, "Fastnet Rock over Stravinsky mares is a nick that works". It could also be used to describe a nick if it does not work. A nick can also be more complex than simply a stallion with a mare's sire.

The foaling date is listed on the pedigree, the general view from Inglis bloodstock staff is you should not discount a yearling purely on a late foal. The foaling date is taken into consideration when viewing the horse physically, as late foals may not be as mature. If you want an early running 2YO type, you would be more inclined to select an early foal as they would be more inclined to be more mature. Lonhro was a late foal, like anything there is a lot of examples that break the trend.

You can always continue to research pedigrees, but more emphasis is placed on physical type of the horse than pedigree. Therefore, using the stallions as a starting point for developing a catalogue short list prior to inspecting the physical horses is an advisable starting point.

How lot numbers are determined

Lot numbers are determined in alphabetical order by Dams name, which moves forward 5 letters on the previous year. At the 2013 Melbourne Premier Yearling sale, lot 1 was a colt by Queen of Babylon. Therefore, lot 1 at the 2014 Melbourne Premier Yearling sale will be the yearling with the dam's name starting with V.